Seeing Jesus in the Storm

By Melissa Berry

Is it possible to avoid life's storms? Do I have control over what happens to me, or will I be swallowed up by the waves of trouble that wash over me? Why do I have to experience hardships and trouble? Where is Jesus when I am suffering? These questions and more are discussed in this inspirational and thought-provoking book. Some storms are minor and cause little to no damage. Other storms are devastating and have the potential to leave long-lasting damage. Whether storms are big or small, no one gets through this life without weathering storm damage. Storms tend to shape the life of the individual for better or worse. As you will discover, you are not a helpless bystander. You do not have to be a victim to whatever happens to you. You can overcome. There are biblical principles that determine the outcome of storms. The Bible has many answers to life's problems. The author walks you through the scriptures that provide instruction to navigate your way when the view is obstructed from storm damage. Although Jesus is always present and always sees you, it may not be easy to see Jesus through difficulties. As you read, you will learn to see life more from God's perspective which will in turn enable you to see Jesus in the storm.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644585474

Book preview

Chapter I

Me: My Own Storm Maker

For whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7–8)

Let me preface this chapter by saying that many of the storms in life are not the fault of the individual. Some just cannot be avoided. I will spend a great deal of time later in the book discussing that. But fortunately, some storms are avoidable.

We become very talented at creating our own storms. As a matter of fact, we are masters at it. Destruction takes little to no effort. Yet the opposite is often true about repairing. We want to live our life our own way and do our own thing. But a moment of pleasure can lead to weeks, months, or even years of problems.

There are all kinds of natural consequences in this world. Just as the law of gravity makes exceptions for no one, neither does anyone escape the law of sowing and reaping as explained in Galatians 6:7–8. If you need an A on that exam, study for the test (and pray for recall). If you want to nurture good relationships with the people whom you care about, be careful about handling strife. If you consume illegal drugs, you risk becoming addicted from which all kinds of trouble will quickly follow. You get the picture.

We cannot live our lives thoughtlessly and carelessly and expect things to magically work out. If I continually run a stop sign, I may get away with it a few times. But eventually, I will reap the consequences of my foolish decision and collide with another car. I can’t blame God because I hit that car. But it’s easier to blame God (or anyone else) than to take responsibility. A child who disregards his parents’ warning to not stick his finger in an electrical outlet and receives a painful jolt as a result cannot legitimately blame his parents for the shock. This world is full of dangers both physically and spiritually. We are wise if we heed the warnings God has given us in His word.

When things go wrong, we want to know why. We questioned God, Why did you let this happen to me? I’m not saying there is anything wrong with asking God questions. He wants us to bring concerns and worries to Him. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. We should express our concerns and questions to Him. The danger comes when we feel anger and bitterness toward God, but instead of asking for His help and guidance, turn away from Him. If we continue to avoid Him and feel bitterness, our hearts are likely to become hardened toward Him, the great I Am who has every answer for every need and every situation in our lives.

God is a Holy God without blemish and without sin. He has every right to give us guidelines and rules to follow. He has every right to tell us how to live. He gave us the Bible as an instruction book which tells us how to sow and reap for good and avoid sowing and reaping destruction. When we ignore His instructions, we set ourselves up for failure and even danger. We reap the consequences of our actions. No matter how much we claim promises or quote scriptures, we will not escape consequences of living in disobedience to God’s word.

Just as that stop sign was not put in place for the sake of making people stop, God did not give us guidelines just for the sake of making us obey rules. Safety is the purpose of the stop sign. God’s word is for our safety and well-being. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). If we ignore His word, we are needlessly stumbling through this world in darkness. The book of Proverbs is a wonderful example of the difference between a foolish person and a wise person and gives specific instructions on how to act like a wise person and deal with a foolish person. If I act like a fool, I can expect to reap the consequences of a fool. I can avoid a lot of bad sowing and reaping by acting like a wise person. There are many passages in the Bible, including Jesus’s teachings, regarding relationships, finances, and really every situation in life. We are wise if we study God’s word and abide by it.

If I buy a computer that needs to be assembled but ignore the instructions, how can I put the computer together correctly? We tend to think that we know how to best run our lives. But who actually knows best? The Creator or the creation? The Potter or the clay? If we knew best, our lives would be perfect. We would never fail, commit sin, or fall into problems. But the truth is that we have a desperate need that demands attention more than food or water. Our Father God, the Creator and Sustainer of the whole universe and everything in it, is the answer to our most dire need: the need to know Him, the need to be directed and led by Him. Even if you are rich and intelligent, you still need Him.

God loves us. He is for us. He wants to save us from as much hardship and pain as possible. He gave us His word so that we may know how to avoid eternal damnation without Him. He also gave us His word as a road map to navigate this earthly